RICHARDSON, TX (02.24.12) - The UTD baseball team snapped a four-game skid in dramatic fashion this weekend, sweeping a three-game home series from Sul Ross State with a 14-1 rout on Friday, then staging back-to-back come-from-behind rallies to win Saturday's doubleheader, 6-5 and 5-4.

UTD collected 17 hits in its series opener on Friday and rode a seven-hit shutout start from junior Derek Dallas, who picked up his first win of the season. In Saturday's first game, the Comets battled back from a 4-0 deficit in their final at-bat to send the game into extra innings, then came back again in the 8th with two runs to win it. UTD trailed 4-3 late in the final game of the series before senior Chase Brown put the Comets ahead to stay with a two-run home run.

Brown's blast capped off a 7-for-10 weekend at the plate that also included a triple, a double and five runs scored. Senior shortstop Jacob Starnes had six hits over the three games and hit the ball hard all weekend.

The victories improved UTD's record to 5-6 on the season while Sul Ross fell to 2-13.

GAME 1: UTD 14, SRSU 1 (BOX SCORE)


Dallas pitched out of trouble several times during the first seven innings while scattering seven hits, but kept the Lobos (2-11) at bay with a six -strikeout performance. The Lobos had baserunners in every inning, but only managed to push one run across the plate against reliever Chase Knight when a two-out error opened the door. Max Willard pitched the final inning for UTD (3-6).

Starnes led the Comet attack with a 4-for-6 showing at the plate, including a double and scoring a run. Centerfielder Brown was 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Eight of the nine Comet starters drove in at least one run in the game.

UTD tallied the game's first run in the 2nd when Jake Wyand scored on a Daniel Saxon sacrifice fly. Brown made it 2-0 in the 3rd, scoring on Kyle Guest ground out. UTD doubled the lead in the 5th inning with a pair of runs off a two-out RBI double from Kaleb Robinson. The Comets made it 7-0 in the 6th with a five-hit at-bat that included RBI hits from Jacob Price and Daniel Saxon as well as an Easterling double.

After giving up their only run in the top of the 8th, the Comets sent 12 batters to plate and put the game way out of reach with a 7-run inning that included five more hits, a Lobo error, a hit batter and a balk. Braden Torrez drove in Saxon with a fielder's choice before back-to-back walks and a single set the stage for Easterling's towering shot over the leftfield wall. It was the freshman's first collegiate home run as well as UTD's first grand slam of the season.

GAME TWO: UTD 6, SRSU 5 (8 innings) (BOX SCORE)

The Comets needed a pair of rallies in the first game of the Saturday doubleheader, first erasing a 4-0 deficit in their final at-bat of the seven-inning opener, then coming from one-run down with two runs in the first extra frame.

Going into the 7th inning, UTD had managed just three hits against SRSU starter Anthony Trevino, who was vying for his first victory of the season for the Lobos. UTD starter Jason Fink had dodged bullets throughout his six-inning start and the Lobos held a 4-0 advantage after the Comets gave up two walks and an error in the top of the 7th.

The Comets, however, chased Trevino with a leadoff double from Brown followed by a hit batter and an RBI single from Kyle Guest and a walk. Pinchhitter Brandon Clounch then delivered a two-run double to the leftfield corner to get UTD within one. Easterling then brought home pinch-runner Tyler Hobbs to tie the score at 4-4.

The Lobos reclaimed the lead with a two-out rally in the top of the 8th. An error opened the door and Dakota Dill singled up the middle to put SRSU up 5-4.

UTD wasn't done, though. Torrez opened the inning with a comebacker to pitcher Lucas Garza, who couldn't find the handle to make the play at first. A Kaleb Robinson single and another hit batter then loaded the bases and Hobbs got the game-winner with a fly ball to left.

Brown was 2-for-3 with a triple and double for the Comets, scoring twice and driving in two runs. Cameron Brown (1-1) got the win in relief.

GAME THREE: UTD 5, SRSU 4 (BOX SCORE)

The Comets jumped out to a 3-0 lead early before Sul Ross charged back and took a 4-3 lead into the 5th inning of the series finale. Starnes singled to open the inning before Brown sent a blast on a line drive over the left field wall to regain control for the Comets. Starter Marvin Prestride and closer Max Willard then shut down SRSU in their final two innings to hold on for the win and the sweep.

UTD got on the board first in the 2nd inning. With one out, Guest was hit by a pitch, then moved to third on a double by Eli Settoon. A balk from Lobo starter Cody Christian brought home the first run, then another scored on a field error by SRSU shortstop Josh Vasquez on a ground ball off the bat of Jacob Price.

Up 2-0, the Comets scratched across another run in the 3rd. Brown singled, then moved from first to third on a hard single by Clounch up the middle. Guest then delivered a perfect squeeze bunt to put UTD ahead 3-0 going into the 4th.

SRSU got a clutch two-out, two-RBI single from Marty Ballez to pull the Lobos to within 3-2. Sul Ross then took the 4-3 lead in the 5th, scoring two more runs on an RBI single and a two-out error, one of four the Comet infield committed in the game.

Prestridge (1-1) picked up the win, scattering six hits over six innings and striking out three.

UTD will face defending American Southwest Conference champion Concordia-Texas in a non-conference game at home Tuesday at 2 pm.